prerequisites

​

Successful Completion of the PADI/SSI Open Water Diver Course

Completing the PADI or SSI Open Water Diver course is an exciting achievement that opens the door to a lifetime of underwater exploration. Here’s what it means to complete this certification:

1. What You’ve Achieved

Upon successful completion of the PADI or SSI Open Water Diver course, you will:

• Be certified to dive to a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet) with a buddy.

• Have the knowledge and skills to plan and execute safe dives in a variety of conditions.

• Be familiar with key diving techniques such as buoyancy control, mask clearing, regulator recovery, and emergency procedures.

• Receive an internationally recognized certification that allows you to dive at any dive shop around the world.

2. Completion Requirements

To achieve Open Water Diver certification, you must:

• Complete the theory portion of the course (either through self-paced e-learning or in-class instruction).

• Pass a written exam to demonstrate your understanding of diving principles, safety procedures, and equipment use.

• Successfully complete confined water training, where you learn essential skills in a controlled, shallow water environment.

• Complete four open water dives with a certified instructor, demonstrating your ability to apply the skills you’ve learned in real-world conditions.

3. Certification Benefits

As an Open Water Diver, you will:

• Be able to dive independently or with a buddy at any dive site worldwide.

• Have the skills to dive safely under varying conditions, from shallow reefs to deeper, more complex dive sites.

• Be ready to pursue further training in advanced diving specialties, such as wreck diving, deep diving, and underwater navigation.

4. What’s Next?

Once you’re certified, the adventure doesn’t stop there. The Open Water Diver certification is just the beginning! You can:

• Continue your dive education with courses like Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, or specialty courses like Nitrox, Wreck Diving, or Night Diving.

• Explore the world’s best dive sites, from tropical coral reefs to historic shipwrecks, all while enjoying the beauty of the underwater world.

By completing the PADI or SSI Open Water Diver course, you've taken the first step into a thrilling world of adventure, discovery, and marine conservation. Welcome to the dive community!

​

​

​

Theory and skills

 

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is designed for those who have already completed the Open Water Diver certification and are looking to take their diving skills to the next level. The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning offers a flexible, convenient way to study the theory portion of the course at your own pace before you begin the hands-on diving experience. Here's an overview of what to expect from the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning:

1. What is PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning?

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning is an online learning program that allows you to complete the theoretical modules of the Advanced Open Water Diver course before you begin the practical dives. This way, you can maximize your dive time at the destination and focus on hands-on experience once you're on location.

2. Structure of the Course

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course consists of five dives: two mandatory (the Deep Dive and the Underwater Navigation Dive) and three elective dives, which you can choose from various specialty options such as:

• Peak Performance Buoyancy

• Wreck Diving

• Drift Diving

• Night Diving

• Fish Identification

• Underwater Photography

• Enriched Air (Nitrox)

• And more...

Each of the five dives will be accompanied by a corresponding theory module.

3. Theoretical Modules in E-Learning

The theory portion of the Advanced Open Water Diver course is divided into modules that you can complete online. The key modules include:

• Deep Diving: Learn about the effects of depth on the body, how to manage deeper dives safely, and dive planning for depths beyond 18 meters (60 feet).

• Underwater Navigation: Understand how to use a compass and natural navigation methods to orient yourself underwater and navigate back to your entry point.

• Specialty Modules: Based on your chosen elective dives, you’ll study theory for the relevant specialties (e.g., Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night Diving, or Drift Diving).

Each module includes videos, interactive lessons, quizzes, and knowledge checks to reinforce what you learn. At the end of each module, you'll take a short quiz to ensure you’ve understood the material before moving on to the next section.

4. Benefits of PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning

• Flexibility: Study at your own pace, whenever and wherever you want. You can pause and return to the material at any time, making it easier to fit learning into your schedule.

• Convenience: Complete the theory portion before your trip, allowing you to dive straight into the hands-on experience at the dive site.

• Interactive Learning: With multimedia elements like videos, illustrations, and quizzes, the E-Learning platform makes the material engaging and easier to understand.

• Save Time: Completing the theory in advance means you can focus on mastering practical diving skills during the course rather than spending time in class.

5. How the Course Works

• Register for the Course: Once you’ve decided to take the course, register online and receive access to the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning platform.

• Complete the Modules: Study each module, which typically takes 1-2 hours per section. You can complete them over a series of days or in one go, depending on your schedule.

• Final Knowledge Review: At the end of each module, you’ll complete a short quiz to test your understanding of the material. After successfully completing all modules, you'll be ready for the practical dives.

• Dive Trip: Once you arrive at the dive destination, you'll complete the required dives with a certified PADI instructor. The instructor will guide you through the dives, ensuring you apply the skills you’ve learned during your theory sessions.

6. Requirements Before Starting the Course

• PADI Open Water Diver Certification (or equivalent): You must be a certified Open Water Diver to enroll in the Advanced Open Water Diver course.

• Age Requirement: You must be at least 12 years old to enroll.

• Physical Condition: You should be in good physical health to safely participate in the course. If you have any health concerns, consult a doctor before starting.

7. After Completing PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning

Once you've finished the theory portion of the course online, you’ll complete your dives with a PADI instructor at a dive center of your choice. The dives include practical application of the knowledge gained from the E-Learning, and you'll demonstrate key skills during each dive.

Upon successful completion of the course (theory and dives), you will be awarded the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, which allows you to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters (100 feet). You’ll also gain exposure to new dive specialties, enhancing your skills and preparing you for further dive adventures.

8. Certification and Continuing Your Diving Education

As an Advanced Open Water Diver, you'll be ready to take on more challenging dives, explore deeper dive sites, and refine your skills. You can also pursue additional specialties, such as Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver, or Divemaster, and gain even more diving experience.

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver E-Learning course is the perfect way to start your next adventure in diving! Dive into the theory at your own pace, then get ready to enhance your skills and explore the underwater world like never before.

​

Advanced water dives

 

5 Specialty Dives in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is designed to expand your dive skills and knowledge by exploring a variety of specialty diving experiences. This course includes five dives in total: two mandatory dives (Deep Dive and Underwater Navigation Dive) and three additional specialty dives, which you can choose based on your interests and dive goals.

Here's a breakdown of the five specialty dives:

1. Deep Dive (Mandatory)

• Purpose: The Deep Dive is one of the core elements of the Advanced Open Water Diver course. It allows divers to experience the thrill and unique challenges of diving beyond 18 meters (60 feet), up to a maximum of 40 meters (130 feet).

• Skills Learned:

  • Understanding the physiological effects of diving at deeper depths, including the risks of nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness.

  • Planning and executing deeper dives safely.

  • Managing air consumption and time at depth, and adjusting your buoyancy for deeper dives.

  • Performing a controlled ascent and safety stop when returning to the surface.

• Why It’s Important: Deep diving opens up the possibility of exploring wrecks, walls, and deeper dive sites where you may encounter different marine life and underwater environments.

2. Underwater Navigation Dive (Mandatory)

• Purpose: The Underwater Navigation Dive helps you become more confident in navigating dive sites and understanding your location during a dive. This specialty is vital for all divers, as it enhances your ability to safely navigate, especially in unfamiliar or low-visibility environments.

• Skills Learned:

  • Using a compass to navigate underwater and swim accurately to a specific location.

  • Estimating distance underwater using time and kick cycles.

  • Marking a position or a landmark underwater, then returning to it or using natural references.

  • Navigation techniques for maintaining orientation during dives.

• Why It’s Important: Strong navigation skills are essential for ensuring that you can explore dive sites safely and find your way back to the entry/exit point, especially if visibility is poor.

3. Peak Performance Buoyancy Dive (Specialty Choice)

• Purpose: The Peak Performance Buoyancy dive is all about refining your buoyancy control. This dive improves your ability to stay neutral in the water, which enhances your diving comfort, conserves air, and minimizes your impact on delicate underwater ecosystems like coral reefs.

• Skills Learned:

  • Fine-tuning your buoyancy using your BCD, weight system, and breath control.

  • Practicing effortless hovering and precise movements.

  • Reducing your air consumption by optimizing buoyancy control.

  • Reducing your environmental impact by avoiding touching or kicking the reef or marine life.

• Why It’s Important: Mastering buoyancy control makes you a more efficient diver, helps you stay safe, and ensures a more enjoyable, environmentally friendly diving experience.

4. Wreck Diving (Specialty Choice)

• Purpose: Wreck diving allows you to explore sunken ships, planes, or other structures. It’s an exciting and rewarding specialty that introduces you to the techniques of safely exploring wrecks while preserving their history.

• Skills Learned:

  • Proper techniques for entering and exploring wrecks safely.

  • Understanding wreck diving procedures, including managing air supply and navigating within confined spaces.

  • Maintaining good buoyancy and control when moving through wrecks to prevent damage to the wreck or the environment.

• Why It’s Important: Wrecks are often home to unique marine life and can offer a thrilling dive experience. Wreck diving is a popular specialty for those interested in history, adventure, and exploring submerged pieces of the past.

5. Night Diving (Specialty Choice)

• Purpose: Night diving introduces you to the magical world that comes alive after the sun sets. Diving at night offers a completely different perspective on the underwater world, where nocturnal marine creatures emerge, and the reef displays a unique beauty.

• Skills Learned:

  • Navigating and controlling your light source while diving at night.

  • Spotting nocturnal marine life like squid, cuttlefish, and bioluminescent organisms.

  • Practicing communication with your dive buddy using hand signals and dive lights.

  • Understanding the psychological and physical challenges of diving in reduced visibility and working with limited light.

• Why It’s Important: Night diving is an amazing way to witness different marine behaviors, and it helps diversify your diving experiences by offering a completely new environment.

Other Specialty Dive Options (Optional Choices)

Besides the five dives mentioned above, divers have the opportunity to choose from a range of other exciting specialty dives, depending on their dive center and the location:

• Drift Diving: Learn how to dive with currents and enjoy the experience of "drifting" through underwater landscapes with minimal effort.

• Underwater Photography: Explore how to take stunning underwater photos and learn the technical skills required for capturing marine life and underwater scenery.

• Fish Identification: Enhance your diving knowledge by learning to identify local fish species and other marine life during your dives.

• Enriched Air (Nitrox): Learn how to dive with enriched air, which allows for longer dive times and shorter surface intervals by increasing the oxygen content in your tank.

• Search and Recovery: Practice skills for recovering objects from the underwater environment using different techniques, such as lifting bags and search patterns.

• Self-Reliant Diving: For those who wish to dive alone or in remote locations, this specialty teaches self-sufficiency and emergency management techniques.

Conclusion

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course offers a fantastic way to build on the skills and knowledge you gained during your Open Water certification. By completing five specialty dives, including Deep Dive and Underwater Navigation, as well as three dives of your choice, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your dive experience and gain specialized skills that will make you a more confident and capable diver.

Whether you’re interested in mastering buoyancy control, exploring shipwrecks, or experiencing the magic of night diving, the Advanced Open Water Diver course is a thrilling next step in your diving journey!

​